IceHogs taking 2-0 series lead back home

Photo: Jonathan Kozub

The Rockford IceHogs are heading home in control of the Central Division Finals after a 4-1 win over Manitoba at Bell MTS Place on Saturday afternoon.

Rockford leads the best-of-seven series, 2-0, with the next three games back in Illinois beginning Wednesday.

The IceHogs spotted the Moose a lead in Game 2 as Brendan Lemieux redirected home a feed from Nic Petan for his third goal of the postseason at 16:03 of the opening period.

But Tyler Sikura answered before the first intermission, and Rockford continued its torrid pace on the power play when Chris DiDomenico converted at 4:45 of the second period.

The IceHogs were 1-for-4 with the man advantage in Game 2 and now have 10 goals in 28 chances this postseason (35.7 percent).

Carl Dahlstrom scored later in the second period, and Andreas Martinsen finished the scoring with an empty-netter in the final seconds of the game.

Collin Delia (5-0) made 33 saves while lowering his postseason goals-against average to 1.52 and raising his save percentage to .949.

Eric Comrie (3-4) stopped 18 of 21 shots for the Moose.

Rockford is now 19-5-1-1 in its last 26 games overall, and 7-1-0 in its last eight visits to Winnipeg.

Central Division Finals – Series “K” (best-of-7)
C3-Manitoba Moose vs. C4-Rockford IceHogs
Game 1 – Fri., May 4 – Rockford 4, MANITOBA 2 | Recap
Game 2 – Sat., May 5 – Rockford 4, MANITOBA 1
Game 3 – Wed., May 9 – Manitoba at Rockford, 8:00
Game 4 – Fri., May 11 – Manitoba at Rockford, 8:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 12 – Manitoba at Rockford, 7:00
*Game 6 – Tue., May 15 – Rockford at Manitoba, 8:00
*Game 7 – Wed., May 16 – Rockford at Manitoba, 8:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern